Storage cell system, storage cell module and method for operating storage cell system

Abstract

According to one embodiment, in a storage cell system, cell lines each formed by connecting a prescribed number of storage cells in series are connected in parallel to form a storage cell module. Each unit is formed by connecting a prescribed number of storage cell modules in parallel. Outputs of a number of units corresponding to load capacity are linked in parallel and supplied to a load. At this time, current is limited to an extent that the storage cells are not damaged by interposing a current-limiting resistor in an output line of the storage cell module.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A storage cell system in which
 outputs of N storage cell units are linked in parallel and supplied to a load, where N is a natural number greater than or equal to two, 
 each of the storage cell units is formed by connecting M storage cell modules in parallel, where M is a natural number greater than or equal to two, and 
 L cell lines each formed by connecting K storage cells in series are connected in parallel to form each of the storage cell modules, where L is a natural number greater than or equal to two, and K is a natural number greater than or equal to one, 
 the storage cell system comprising: 
 a fuse interposed in each of the L cell lines, and disconnecting a cell line from the other cell lines connected in parallel when current flowing in the cell line is an overcurrent; 
 an air circuit breaker interposed in an output line of each of the N storage cell units, and interrupting an output line when current flowing in the output line is an overcurrent; and 
 a current-limiting resistor interposed in an output line of each of the M storage cell modules, and limiting load capacity of the output line, wherein 
 when one of the storage cells has failure, and a backward current occurs in the output line of the storage cell module, the current-limiting resistor performs protective coordination for the backward current by limiting load capacity of the backward current and avoiding the disconnection of the other storage cell modules by the fuse and the interruption of the other storage cell units by the air circuit breaker. 
 
     
     
       2. A storage cell module used for a storage cell system for linking outputs of N storage cell units in parallel and supplying the outputs to a load, where N is a natural number greater than or equal to two, in which
 each of the storage cell units is formed by connecting the M storage cell modules in parallel, where M is a natural number greater than or equal to two, and 
 L cell lines each formed by connecting K storage cells in series are connected in parallel to form each of the storage cell modules, where L is a natural number greater than or equal to two, and K is a natural number greater than or equal to one, 
 the storage cell module comprising: 
 a fuse interposed in each of the L cell lines, and disconnecting a cell line from the parallel connection when current flowing in the cell line is an overcurrent; and 
 a current-limiting resistor interposed in an output line in which the L cell lines are connected in parallel, and limiting load capacity of the output line, wherein 
 when an air circuit breaker is interposed in an output line of each of the N storage cell units and interrupts an output line when current flowing in the output line is an overcurrent, and further when one of the storage cells has failure, and thus, a backward current occurs in an output line of the storage cell module, the current-limiting resistor performs protective coordination for the backward current by limiting load capacity of the backward current and avoiding the disconnection of the other storage cell modules by the fuse and the interruption of the other storage cell units by the air circuit breaker. 
 
     
     
       3. A method for operating a storage cell system in which
 L cell lines each formed by connecting K storage cells in series are connected in parallel to form each storage cell module, where L is a natural number greater than or equal to two, and K is a natural number greater than or equal to one, and 
 outputs of N storage cell units each formed by connecting the M storage cell modules in parallel are linked in parallel and supplied to a load, where N is a natural number greater than or equal to two, and M is a natural number greater than or equal to two, 
 the method comprising: 
 interposing, in each of the L cell lines, a fuse which disconnects a cell line from the storage cell module when current flowing in the cell line is an overcurrent; 
 interposing, in an output line of each of the N storage cell units, an air circuit breaker which interrupts an output line when current flowing in the output line is an overcurrent; and 
 interposing, in an output line of each of the M storage cell modules, a current-limiting resistor which limits load capacity of the output line, wherein 
 when one of the storage cells has failure, and a backward current occurs in the output line of the storage cell module, the current-limiting resistor performs protective coordination for the backward current by limiting load capacity of the backward current and avoiding the disconnection of the other storage cell modules by the fuse and the interruption of the other storage cell units by the air circuit breaker.